Stock bin



Dec. 15, 1953 L. T. ALMAS 2,662,671

STOCK BIN y Filed Aug. 2"?, 1949 Patented Dec. 15, 1953 STOCK BIN Louis T. Almas, Detroit, Mich.,

assignor to Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 27, 1949, Serial No. 112,815

Claims. l

This invention relates to storage apparatus speciiically designed to permit ready and easy access to articles held therein and more particularly to storage boxes adaptable to production manufacturing operations in which it is highly desirable to have articles fed to readily accessible positions for operators or assemblers performing manufacturing operations.

Eicient handling of parts used in manufacturing operations usually necessitates that the parts be handled in large quantities. For instance, if small parts such as nuts, bolts or washers should be shipped from plant to plant, or transferred from point to point within a single plant, their movement is greatly facilitated by effecting the transportation operation in large containers or boxes. When the parts reach their destination, however, and are to be used by an operator on a production line, such large boxes are usually too cumbersome for supplying the operators directly. If such boxes are used to supply the operator directly, as the quantity diminishes the operator is required continually to stoop over or stretch to reach the parts at the lower levels of the containers. Such unnecessarily expended effort naturally results in fatigue of the operator and causes production performances to be less eicient. An alternative method of supplying parts to the operator is to break the quantity into smaller lots arranged to be placed within easy reach of his working position. This method of supplying parts is time consuming, however, both in requiring that the large quantities be broken into the more efficient lots and also in requiring that a constant watch be maintained to assure that the operator does not become deiicient in the number of available parts.

It is, therefore, a particular object of the present invention to provide means for eiciently handling large quantities of production parts in such a marmer that the parts are automatically fed to positions of easy access without requiring a division into smaller lots.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel stock storage apparatus capable of holding large quantities of parts while at the same time being readily adaptable to direct and eicient use in production line operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel stock bin having a container oi a size suicient to enable eflicient transportation of a large quantity of parts and also capable of association with a stand in such a manner that it is readily adaptable to efficient supply of parts on production line operations.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel stock container adaptable to efcient transportation of stock and feeding of parts held thereby to positions of easy accesn sibility.

, The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention, however, as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational View in partial cross-section showing a large stock container and associated stand making up a stock bin embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial side elevational View of the stock bin of Figure l, with the container shown in open position.

Figure 3 is an elevational View illustratinganother embodiment of the present invention in which the opening and closing of the stock container may be better controlled;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the stock container shown in Figure 3, in open position; and

Figure 5 is a broken plan view showing the lever arrangement for opening and closing the container of Figures 3 and 4.

As shown on the drawing:

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, Figure 1 shows a stock container Ill removably mounted on a stand II which has a rectangular trough I2 ixedly secured thereto adjacent and immediately below one side of the container Eil. Stand I I is constructed of material such as angle iron welded together into a generally rectangular shaped structure corresponding in length and width to the container I!! with which it is associated. A pair of support rails I3, made of angle iron, are provided on top of the stand for mounting the container and proper positioning thereof. These rails are oppositely disposed along the front and rear top edges of the stand suiiiciently far apart to permit the container IU to be fitted snugly therebetween.

The bottom of the container its is provided with a large inverted channel member having sides which dene the legs of the container. Two end Walls i5 and one side wall i I of the container Eil are welded directly to the top of the channel rnernber ed in upright position while the 'fourth side H is hinged or pivotally mounted near its upper edge between the two end walls i5. The side wall il is provided with right angle end .flanges I9 which increase in width toward the bottom of the wall so that their widest portions are at their lower edges. The flanges I9 thus pron vide end walls which. close the ends ci the space formed by pulling the side wall il outwardly to the inclined position shown in Figure 2. Piv otal mounting of the side Il is accomplished by means of a pair of pivot bolts it passing through the end walls I5 and the upper portions of the end anges I9. A false bottom il is provided in 'sidewise out of the container.

the lower level of container I which is arranged to slant downwardly from the iixedly secured sies |6 toward the lower edge of the hinged side il.

The trough I2 is secured in position adiacen: the side Il immediately below its lower edge by being welded to the stand and is supported further by one or more braces 22 welded between the front of the stand and the outermost bottom edge of the trough l2. The trough |2 is of a length which makes it extend slightly beyond each end wall of the container lil as may be seen in Figure 5.

A narrow, dat plate member 2l is welded tothe upper edge of the trough l2, extending toward the edge of the bottom 2| so that as the wall i? opened', the material from the container :i0 will not drop between the trough and the channel leg |11 of' the Container |9.

The weight of the material in the container will normally urge side il'V open, but a pull knob 2 3v isprovided on the side Il to permit the side H to be withdrawn by hand, so that an opening may be established at the lower edge of the container when the material therein does not force the side il open of its own accord. As the side is so withdrawn, its right angular ends i9 act as guides for any material that might fall In order that the material falling into the trough will not overow, it is desirable that the side il be limited in its pivotal movement, so that the opening catablished thereby will not become toolarge.

In this respect, the ends iS of the wall are desired to be suiciently narod out at their bottom edges so that no break exists between the end walls l and the withdrawn wall Il. In other words, when the wall Il is withdrawn to its fullest extent, its side edges or` ends l should present an continuous surface meeting the edges of the ends walls |5y with which they are associated, thereby establishing an opening at the under edge of wall only.

Limitation of movement of the wall il is accomplishedv by means of a limit bar 2li and a pair of tongue members 2i and 25 ixedly secured respectively to one end wall E5 of conu tainer l) and an edge of the wall Each of the tongue members 2liv andA 25 has an aperture therethrough through which the limit bar 2S is arranged to extend in slidable relation. The ends of the limit bar 26v are bent over at right angles to its body portion. The body portion is slightly curved to accommodate thel arcuate path followed by the tongue member 25,k while the length of the body is such that the ends are disposed a distance apart equal tov the distance of motion to which the bottom of the end wall Il is to be limited.

A latch member 28 is provided on the outer surface of the end wall I5 adjacent the tongue member 2f! and is pivotally mounted thereon so that a cutout portion of the latch will lock the tongue members 2d and 25 together when the side wall Il is closed. The wall i' is locked in closed position in this manner when the container 0 is used for transporting stock material, but when the container is mounted on the stand Ii the latch 28 may be lifted to permit the wall to open for the distance xed by the bar 2S.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, parts similar to parts in the embodiment or Figures 1 and 2 are given identical reference numerals. In this embodiment a toggle lever mechanism is associated with the container IE which permits a greater force to be applied to the wall Il' to eilect both opening and closing operations thereof. The lever mechanism also permits full control of the; position of the wall as it is being opened, thereby keeping it from being opened too suddenly by the force of the material falling out of the container. The lever mechanism consists of a pair of lever arms 2S and 3|) each pivoted at one end and a handle lever 3| pivotally joining their other ends. The level' arm 3|! has one end pivotally connected to a tongue member 32 projecting from the edge of the wall I'I. Pivotal connection is effected by a bolt 33 and a nut 34, while spacing between the arms is assured by providing a tubular spacer 35 between them. The other end of the lever arm 3h is curved at an angle with respect to its length and is pivotally connected to the extreme end of the handle lever 3|.

The lever arm 29I has one end pivotally connected to the wall i5 by means of a bolt 4 3 and, a nut 44 near its back upper corner. The other end of lever arm 29 is pivotally connected to .the handle lever 3| at a point just above the point of connection of the lever 30 thereto. The handle lever 3| has its free end bent in an offset manner from the end wall of container IG so that. the handle -may be grasped without touching either of the lever arms 29 or 3U.

Connection of the lever arm 30 to the free end of the handle lever 3| is effected by a bolt 35, and a nut 3i while a tubular spacer 38 spaces the connected elements aparta slight, distance. Connection between the lever arm 29 and the handle lever 3| is similarly made by a bolt 40 and a nu-t 4| with a spacer G2 which is slightly longer than spacer 38. When the lever 3| is drawn clockwise in a downward direction towardA the front of the container IS, the curved end of the, levez1 arm 30 moves around the pivot connection between lever arm 2t and handle 3| thereby establishing a tog,- gle closingv effect. By reason of the spacer- 42 being somewhat larger than spacer 38 contact of the end of the lever arm 3B with the lever arml 29 is prevented during the operation of closing' the container I0. In opening the container l0 the handle is drawn upward and slowly released as the material pours into the troughr |21` and be.- cause of the mechanical advantage provided by the lever mechanism this operation may be performed gradually and with great ease regardless of the weight of material pressing against the side of the container. In some instances the material within the container might wedge against the ends of the wall or press thereagainst in such manner that the container will not open by mere weight of the material against the inside of pivotedwall I'|' and in such instances the lever mechanismY may be utilized to force Ithe side wall toits open position.

From the foregoing description of my invention it can be readily realized that I have devised a stock bin which can be utilized to great advantage on production lines where the stands for the containers may be placed alongside of machines and where the loaded boxesv or containers mayI be positioned on the stands by means of shop type or highlift truck type hoists. Utilization. of the stock bin apparatus which I have disclosed will relieve production operators of a considerable amount of fatigue which they normally would experience in bendingv and reaching for parts supplied in plain four-sided boxes or containers.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I; therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A bin comprising a pair of spaced opposed end walls having side edges, a bottom disposed between said end walls and inclined downwardly to said side edges, a side wall pivoted on a generally horizontal axis disposed upwardly from the lower edge of said inclined bottom for movement from a closed position in which the lower edge thereof is adjacent said lower edge f said bottom to an open position in which the lower edge thereof is outwardly spaced from said lower edge of said bottom to provide an opening for iiow of material from said bin, and a pair of flanges on the ends of said side wall extending inwardly inside and adjacent said end walls, said pair of flanges in the open position of said side wall effectively forming extensions of said end walls to prevent flow of the material from said bin in a direction transverse to said end walls, and means on the outside of one Vof said end walls connected to said side wall to limit outward movement of said side wall.

2. A bin comprising a pair of spaced opposed end walls and having side edges, a bottom disposed between said end walls and inclined downwardly to said side edges, a side wall pivoted o-n a generally horizontal axis disposed upwardly from the lower edge of said inclined bottom for movement from a closed position in which the lower edge thereof is adjacent said lower edge of said bottom to an open position in which the lower edge thereof is outwardly spaced from said lower edge of said bottom to provide an opening for iiow of material from said bin, a pair of flanges on the ends of said side wall extending inwardly inside and adjacent said end walls, said pair of flanges in the open position of said side wall effectively forming extensions of said end walls to prevent flow of material from said bin in a direction transverse to said end walls, and means for limiting outward movement of said side wall, including a tongue member projecting from said side wal1 adjacent one of said anges, and means `on the outside of the associated end wall linked to said tongue member.

3. A stock supply bin comprising a pair of spaced opposed end walls disposed generally vertically and having aligned side edges, a bottom disposed between said end walls and inclined downwardly to said aligned side edges, a side wall pivoted on a generally horizontal axis disposed upwardly from the lower edge of said inclined bottom for movement from a closed position in which the lower edge thereof is adiacent said lower edge of said bottom to an open position in which the lower edge thereof is outwardly spaced from said lower edge of said bottom to provide an opening for flow of material from said bin, a pair of flanges on the ends of said side wall extending inwardly adjacent said end walls, said pair of anges in the open position of said side wall efectively forming extensions to said end walls to prevent flow of material from said bin in a direction transverse to said end walls, a rst Imember affixed to said side wall, a second member aiiixed to one end wall, a bar slidably extending through said members, and projections at the end oi said bar adapted to engage said iirst and second members for limiting outward movement of said side wall.

4. A stock supply bin comprising a pair of CSi spaced facing end walls disposed generally vertically and having aligned side edges, a bottom disposed between said end walls and inclined downwardly to said aligned side edges, a side wall pivoted on a generally horizontal axis disposed upwardly from the lower edge of said inclined bottom for movement from a closed position in which the lower edge thereof is adjacent said lower edge of said bottom to an open position in which the lower edge thereof is outwardly spaced from said lower edge of said bottom to provide an opening for flow of material from said bin, a pair of flanges on the ends of said side walls extending inwardly adjacent said end walls, said pair of flanges in the open position of said side wall effectively forming extensions of said end walls to prevent flow of material from said bin in a direction transverse to said end wall, a rst member affixed to said side wall, a second member aixed to one end wall, a bar slidably extending through said members, projections at the ends of said bar engaging said members for limiting outward movement of said side wall, and a latch member pivoted to said one end wall having a portion engageable with the outside surface of said first member in the closed position of said side wall.

5. A stoel; supply bin comprising a pair of spaced facing end walls disposed generally vertically and having aligned side edges, a bottom disposed between said end walls and inclined downwardly to said aligned side edges, a side wall pivote on a generally horizontal axis disposed upwardly from the lower edge of said inclined bottom for movement from a closed position in which the lower edge thereof is adjacent said lower edge or" said bottom to an open position in which the lower edge thereof is outwardly spaced from said lower edge ci said bottom to provide an opening for flow of material from said bin, a pair of anges on the ends of said side wall extending inwardly adjacent said end walls, said pair of anges in the open position of said side wall effectively forming extensions of said end walls to prevent flow of material from said bin in a direction transverse to said end walls, and means for limiting outward movement of said side walls, said means comprising a handle lever, a rst lever arm having one end pivoted to one of said end walls and the other end pivoted to said handle lever at rst point thereon, and the second lever arm having one end pivoted to said side wall and the other end pivoted to said handle lever at a second point spaced from said rst point.

LOUIS T. ALMAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 295,233 Dall Mar. 18, 1884 415,010 Wiltse et al Nov. 12, 1889 508,326 Lippincott Nov. 7, 1893 596,133 Appleton Dec. 28, 1897 790,852 Piza May 23, 1905 954,850 Burke et al Apr. 12, 1910 1,214,045 Lightburne Jan. 30, 1917 1,351,251 Jewell Aug. 31, 1920 1,409,398 Mulvihill Mar. 14, 1922 1,456,630 Eaton et al May 29, 1923 1,481,538 Crooke Jan. 22, 1924 2,344,755 Venard Mar. 21, 1944 2,440,056 McIntyre et al. Apr. 20, 1948 

